Weekly Newsletter for the week Friday, May 15, through Thursday, May 21, 2009

THIS WEEKEND

CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND CLOSING - This  Sunday, May 17, immediately following Divine Liturgy, we will be celebrating the close of the Church School year with awards, food and festivities.  Join us downstairs after the Awards for Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, Balloon Making with Rami Salami, The Clown, Potting Plants, Sand Arts, Face Painting,  and Nahass Tie-Dye! The entire parish is invited to attend -   Church School Students FREE; Adults:  Good-Will Donation.

NEW SKETE RETREAT - There will be  a short meeting for all those going to the St. Mary-New Skete Pre-Pentecost retreat (see Reminders, below)  this  Sunday, May 17,  during coffee hour.  We will review the schedule of events, coordinate rides, and review all the other particulars for the retreat.  It's not too late - if you would like to join the retreat, contact Tiffany Conroy (trattus1@gmail.com) or Teva Regule  (teva@mit.edu) asap.

BBC CD's - Two of the Boston Byzantine Choir's CD recordings, Thy Passion and Thy Resurrection,  will be available for purchase this Sunday, for the last time,  in the Church Hall after Liturgy. Cost is $15 each or 4 for $50. 

WOMEN'S CLUB DINNER - The Women's Club's End-of Year Dinner will take place  this  Monday evening, May 18, at Yangtze River Restaurant, 25 Depot Square, (Mass. Ave.) Lexington Center at 7:30 pm.  Call Selma Winstanley if you would like to attend.  Everyone is welcome!!

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

PARISH COUNCIL - The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, May 20, in the hall next to the kitchen.

WOMEN'S CLUB OFFICERS Congratulations to the our new officers:  MayEllen Mabardy, President; Priscilla Goss, Vice President; S. Louise Homsy, Treasurer; and Shirley Bezreh, Recording Secretary.  Special thanks to our out-going officers:  Selma Winstanley, President; Renay DiFiore, Vice President; S. Louise Homsy, Treasurer and Shirley Bezreh,  Recording Secretary.  "Well done, thou good and faithful servants."    

LIBRARY AND CLASSROOM RESTORATION PROJECT - With the approval of Parish Council and Fr. Antony, there is a project underway to clean up and restore the library.  The aim is to create an appropriate classroom for the adult inquirers group and the teens and also to create a functioning library for the parish.  This ongoing project will be completed by July 1, 2009.  Parishioners can help by refraining from placing things randomly in the library and by taking with them anything they might bring into it.  Thanks to everyone for your cooperation and especially to the many people who have helped with this project thus far.  Please contact David Vermette (617-776-5635, dgvermette@sysmatrix.net) with any question of comments. 

REMINDERS

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE - If you haven't yet returned your Food for Hungry People boxes (filled with money!), please leave them at the Bengarri or give to Violet Robbat this Sunday.  

PRE-PENTECOST RETREAT AT NEW SKETE - The Fellowship of St. John the Divine is sponsoring a community building retreat for St. Mary's at New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, NY, May 22-24 (Friday night until Sunday afternoon).  Fr. Antony and nearly  30 parishioners will be participating in that event  next weekend.

In case of emergency Friday through Sunday, May 22-24, please contact Fr. Timothy Ferguson at St. George Church, West Roxbury at 617-323-0323.

 BLESSING OF GRAVES - On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25,  Fr. Antony will be blessing graves at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, MA. starting at 9:00 am.  If you would like him to bless the graves of loved ones in other cemeteries, please let him know by calling the Church Office at 617-547-1234 or e-mail frawhj@gmail.com

HOLY WEEK VIDEO and PHOTOS - Most of the Holy Week services at St. Mary's were broadcast over the web.  In fact, nearly 200 people logged in to watch a variety of services throughout the week!  If you missed any of the services or would like to watch video recorded from our live Holy Week broadcasts, visit https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live. 

As we continue to seek out new ways to extend the ministry of the Church beyond our walls, we ask you to help us by providing your feedback.  If you had the opportunity to view any of the services (whether live or pre-recorded) on the church's web site, please send us an email describing your experience.  In your email, please include: the circumstances for watching the services online, what you think of this ministry, whether you would be interested in the continuation of this type of ministry, and any suggestions you may have for bettering this ministry if it were to continue.  Send your feedback via email to: webmaster@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org

Photographs from Holy Week and Pascha are also available for viewing on the St. Mary website. See  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/multimedia/photogalleries/pascha2009

NO FASTING - There is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, not only during Bright Week, but for the whole forty days from Pascha until the Feast of the Ascension on May 28.  (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch .)  This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.

ANTOCHIAN WOMEN  SCHOLARSHIPS- Scholarships of $500 or more are available from the North American Board of Antiochian Women to females over 25 years of age, in good standing and actively involved in their parish, applying for or registered in an academic or trade program of study and in financial need.  Deadline is June 1, 2009.  Applications are available through St. Mary Church Office. 

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS - Applications are currently being accepted for the N. G. Beram Veterans Association, Inc. 2009 Scholastic Achievement Award program. Applications can be downloaded from the web page at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam , and completed applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2009. Applicants must be high school seniors and planning to attend an accredited 4 year college oruniversity full-time. $1,000 awards are presented at the Association's banquet in November 2009.  For further information see Arthur N. Mabbett, call 781-391-6530, or email at mabbett@mabbett.com.

SUMMER CONFERENCE AT ST. VLADIMIR'S - St. Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY, has announced a Summer Conference for Clergy & Laity, June 18 - 20, 2009 Keynote:  Archpriest Alexander Garklavs. Topic: "The Council & the Tomos: 20th Century Landmarks towards a 21st Century Church." E-mail or call 914-961-8313 Ext. 343.  To register:  www.svotsedu or email: events@svots.edu   See flyer on church bulletin board.

PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE - St. George Church in Lawrence will be hosting the 2009 Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of New England, June 25-28, at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover , MA .  Singles and Doubles:  $95.  Triples: $105 and Quads: $115.  Hotel reservation deadline is June 4, 2009; mention Parish Life Conference for special rates.   More information can be found on St. George's website at www.stgeorgelawrence.org/Conf2009     

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP - Schedules have been announced for the 2009 camping program at the Village - see http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html

CROSSROAD - High School Juniors and Seniors:  The Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College is now accepting applications for its summer CrossRoad program.  Two sessions are offered:  June 20 - 30 and July 7 - 17, 2009.  For more information and application see  www.crossroad.hchc.edu or call 617-850-1309. 

ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION - The national convention for the whole Archdiocese will be held July 19 - 26 at Desert Springs JW Marriot Hotel, Palm Desert , California, hosted by St. Michael Church, Van Nuys. Check out their website at www.archdioceseconvention2009.org  for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshippers and those in need.  Consider serving in one of these ways:

PARTICIPATION

Liturgical Service - Each Sunday, members of the congregation are needed to read the Epistle and assist during Communion by holding the Communion Cloths and Holy Bread Baskets.  All Orthodox Christians in the Parish are welcome and encouraged to participate. We usually need one Epistle reader and six people to hold cloths and baskets.  If you would like to read the Epistle or assist during the Communion, please contact Jeff Wasilko, 781-820-0882, jeffw@smoe.org. 

Coffee Hour - People are needed every week to provide coffee, juice and cookies, or more if desired, and set it up Sunday morning. To sign up for an available Sunday, please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the Hall or call Marilyn Robbat in the Parish Office and she will write your name in. If you need any help with figuring out what to bring or do, check the list below the signup sheet (also printed in the Bulletin), or ask Marilyn at secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org or 617-547-1234.

VOLUNTEERING

Holy Resurrection Open Doors - The Holy Resurrection Open Door Meal Ministry in Allston needs volunteers every Monday evening (there is a special need in the summer).  The official hours of the project are 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, but it is fine to come anytime and leave any time.  Best times would be 5:30-5:45 to 7:15-7:30 pm.  You can serve meals, coffee and tea to the people who arrive for dinner (6-7 pm) or just stay behind the scenes doing set-up and clean-up.  It is a very rewarding, hands-on, face-to-face way to serve the community with (mostly) other Orthodox Christians-we even chant the Our Father together before the meal begins. Church info can be found at  http://hrocboston.org.  

 Questions? Please contact Liz Straghalis at liztutella@gmail.com  phone 617-974-5005,  or Tiffany Conroy at trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162.

St Paul's Food Pantry - Two to four volunteers help each week in the food pantry at St Paul 's Roman Catholic Church in Harvard Square , Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:45.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

DONATIONS

Food and Clothing - Holy Resurrection in Allston takes donations of non-perishable food items and clothing to distribute at the Open Door Ministry on Monday evenings.  You can bring your donations by on Monday nights between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm or contact Tiffany Conroy, trattus1@gmail.com, 617-990-7162, for more information.

- St. Paul 's Food Pantry in Harvard Square , where volunteers from St. Mary help every Saturday, depends upon regular donations of canned and packaged foods.  To help, contact Christian Alcala at cmalcala1989@yahoo.com, or (617) 876-5684.

Monetary Contributions - The Agape Canister Program is an Orthodox non-profit development program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center .  It is dedicated to meeting the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or creed. All funds collected by the Agape Canister Program are earmarked for medical care and clinics, water wells, agricultural development, food and clothing, support personnel (e.g. doctors, nurses, teachers), the construction of schools, and the education of indigenous people in their own communities.  Please contribute each Sunday - A clear plastic box is on the Bengarri.

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me," says our Lord.

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PANTRY - May 16:  David Vermette

LITURGICAL SERVICE - May 17:   Epistle:  Milad Selim; Left Cloth: Linda and Maggie Arnold; Right Cloth: Jonathan Hill and  Melissa Nassiff;  Left Bread:  Mark Patacchiola;  Right Bread: Larisa Patacchiola

COFFEE HOUR - May 17:   Church School Graduation Festivities

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, May 16:  Great Vespers 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 17:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Last day of Church School

SCRIPTURE READINGS for May 17, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman : 

Epistle:  Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30  In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.

Gospel: John 4:5-42  The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." ... Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. ... And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."

LOOKING AHEAD

Friday, May 22 - Sunday, May 24:  Pre-Pentecost Retreat at New Skete
Saturday, May 23: NO Vespers at St. Mary
Sunday, May 24:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Monday, May 25,  Memorial Day:  Blessing of Graves at Fairview Cemetery in  Hyde Park  9:00 am
Wednesday, May 27:  Evening Liturgy for the Feast of the  Ascension of our Lord 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 30:  Great Vespers 5:00
Sunday, May 31:  Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, June 28:  Parish Life Conference

INSIGHT

When He who sees [all] observed the reasoning of the wise woman and the faith of her heart, straightway He answered the woman: "The one whom you call Messiah, whom the prophets prophesied would come at this time, you see, and even hear his voice. I am the one, I whom you see, and whom you hold in the center of your heart. Loving you, I have come to attract you to me and to save you. Now announce this to all those who wish to be saved in the city of Sichar, to your relatives and fellow citizens; "  and all come together who are filled with exceeding great joy and redemption.

   - St Romanos the Melodist - Vol. 1, On the Woman of Samaria

Accepting the task of hospitality, the patriarch [Abraham] used to sit at the entrance to his tent (cf. Gen. 18:1), inviting all who passed by, and his table was laden for all comers including the impious and barbarians, without distinction. Hence he was found worthy of that wonderful banquet when he received angels and the Master of all as guests. We too, then, should actively and eagerly cultivate hospitality, so that we may receive not only angels, but also God Himself. "For inasmuch," says the Lord, "as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me" (Matt. 25:40). It is good to be generous to all, especially to those who cannot repay you.

   - St. Theodoros, the Great Ascetic

It is just possible that we are the only copy of the Gospel that a given person will meet.
   - Brother David

We read the Gospels not merely to get a picture or an idea of Christ but to enter in and pass through the words of revelation to establish, by faith, a vital contact with the Christ Who dwells in our souls as God.

   - Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation